Velocity can be a silver bullet of sorts for pitchers. Errors in command don’t always matter when your fastball sits 98-99 mph. What’s more, extreme velocity sets up the other offerings in a pitcher’s repertoire, making them even better in tandem with the heat than they are on their own merits.
For a case study in this truism of baseball, consider Zack Wheeler. More to the point, consider Zack Wheeler in his first showdown with Bryce Harper in a game from last Tuesday. Wheeler shut down the Phillies in that contest, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing five hits, striking out 11 and walking none in a 9-0 Mets victory.